The Address by Fiona Davis

Title: The Address
Author: Fiona Davis
Genre: Historical Fiction


Synopsis: From back cover: 'When a chance encounter with Theodore Camden, one of the architects of the grand New York apartment house The Dakota, leads to a job offer for Sara Smythe, her world is suddenly awash in possibility—no mean feat for a servant in 1884. The opportunity to move to America. The opportunity to be the female manager of the Dakota.

One hundred years later, Bailey Camden is desperate for new opportunities: Fresh out of rehab, the former interior designer is homeless, jobless, and penniless. Bailey's grandfather was the ward of famed architect Theodore Camden, yet Bailey won't see a dime of the Camden family's substantial estate; instead, her “cousin” Melinda—Camden's biological great-granddaughter—will inherit almost everything. So when Melinda offers to let Bailey oversee the renovation of her lavish Dakota apartment, Bailey jumps at the chance, despite her dislike of Melinda's vision. The renovation will take away all the character of the apartment Theodore Camden himself lived in...and died in, after suffering multiple stab wounds by a former Dakota employee who had previously spent seven months in an insane asylum—a madwoman named Sara Smythe.'

My Thoughts

I love a story that bridges several generations, it can lend perspectives that enrich the storyline and increase suspense and mystery. Davis does this masterfully. While the story may seem predictable in the beginning, an affair, an unhappy marriage, an unexpected child, the author takes unique routes in how each issue becomes resolved. The ending of the 1880's storyline is not at all what I expected, while the ending of 1980's story was similar to my hunch from the start. 
I really loved the protagonists in both timelines, women trying to make a life for themselves after hardship but both with so much hope for the future. Historical architecture and genealogy are topics that I am fascinated by, so finding those to be the central focus of this story piqued my interest. The mystery and intrigue aspect of this novel made it so hard for me to make myself stop reading so I could go to sleep. I was excited to get to read more of this book every day and was sad when it ended. I look forward to reading more from this author!



Comment below if you have read this book or have suggestions for others like it!


To buy this book from Amazon now, click on the image at the top of the post.
To see more from the author, visit the website linked above

Naturally Tan by Tan France

Title: Naturally Tan
Author: Tan France
Genre: Memoir, Autobiography



Synopsis: Tan discusses growing up in England, his love for fashion, starting his own business, meeting and marrying his husband, and how he came to Queer Eye, all while providing pops of fashion advice.

My Thoughts

Tan France is my favorite member of the Fab 5 so when I saw he was writing a book with a hilarious title I knew I had to read it. It was everything I hoped for.
Each chapter has a title using an article of clothing or piece of fashion that is featured in the story told in that chapter. France uses fashion to discuss every aspect of his life, from when he was a young boy through getting hired for Queer Eye.
This book reads very quickly and France is very open about private topics that affected his life, including a bout of depression leading to suicidal thoughts. Now, I promise that the whole book is not deep and sad, for most of it I was smiling and there were some parts where I definitely laughed out loud to myself. One such part was when the author was discussing how he came to his signature haircut and the unfortunate hair choices he made in the past.
Tan does discuss Queer Eye and the rest of the Fab 5, but this book is not really about that. It is about his journey to get there, so the show is a smaller portion toward the end of the book about how he was hired and what it is like to be famous as an introvert.
This book was a fun summer read so I hope you check it out! 

Comment below if you have read this book or have suggestions for others like it!


To buy this book from Amazon now, click on the image at the top of the post.
To see more from the author, visit the website linked above

Dark Traces by Philippa Gregory

Title: Dark Tracks
Author: Philippa Gregory
Genre: Young Adult Fiction

Synopsis: Luca, Freize, Brother Peter, Isolde, and Ishraq continue their journey conducting inquiries about the end of days and trying to get Isolde's inheritance back. They continue their travels East to investigate a group with a dancing sickness. They go from city to city unable to stop dancing and adding new people from each stop as they go. As usual, the team of travelers gets more than they were bargaining for as they attempt an inquiry.

Other books I have read by this author: The Other Queen, The Boleyn Inheritance, The Constant Princess, The Last Tudor, The Taming of the Queen, The Queen's Fool, The Other Boleyn Girl, The Lady of the Rivers, The White Queen, The Red Queen, The Kingmaker's Daughter, The White Princess, The Red Princess, The King's Curse, The Virgin's Lover, Three Sisters, Three Queens, Changeling, Stormbringer and Fool's Gold

My Thoughts

I actually finished this book days ago but I have been putting of writing the review because this is the first Philippa Gregory book that I am just 'meh' about. Unfortunately, this novel didn't really propel the story forward. There wasn't much meaningful character development, the inquiry team and Isolde and Ishraq aren't any closer to obtaining their goals, it felt like a story for the sake of writing about these characters again. 
Yes, there are a few moments of suspense but overall it feels more like a story to teach younger readers not to discriminate. I know it is YA and discrimination should be spoken out against, but it really does begin to feel preachy. 
SPOILER ALERT: 
At the end when Isolde has the bizarre premonition dream about the holocaust trains and concentration camps because the city they are in 400 years earlier is the site of a concentration camp it just felt so contrived and didn't fit with the overarching storyline or what we know of her character. It was an odd choice.
END OF SPOILER.
Will this disappointing book in the series keep me from reading the next one? No, but if it is also disappointing then I will probably be done with the series. Gregory doesn't promise to have it done until 2021, so hopefully, that is enough time for a palate cleanser.

Comment below if you have read this book or have suggestions for others like it!


To buy this book from Amazon now, click on the image at the top of the post.
To see more from the author, visit the website linked above